Constantine the Great 250-337
This figure first Roman emperor who embraced Christian Religion. Through convert it and various ways by which this development, he held prominent role in this change of religion Christian Religion which are pursued and threatened with punishment became the dominant religion in Europe.
Constantine was born about the year 280 in the city Naissus (now named Nis) in the country which is now Yugoslavia. His father was a high-ranking officers, and Constantine spent his youth in Nicomedia, where the court of Emperor Diocletian located.
Diocletian ascended the throne in 305 and father of Constantine - Constantius - became ruler in the western part of the Roman Empire. When Constantius died in the following year, Constantine declared emperor by his soldiers. However, other generals at odds with each other about this coronation and civil war was inevitable. This new war ended in 312 when Constantine defeated by opponents who still survive - Maxentius - in a battle at Milvian bridge near the city of Rome.
Not certain when Constantine entered Christian Religion. The stories commonly heard saying, at times before the battle at the bridge Milvian, Constantine saw a cross burning in the sky and says "By this sign you will be able to conquer." No matter when he entered the Christians, Constantine did much for the progress of Christian Religion. Pemulanya One step is to make the Act Milan. With this law is The Christian religion is legal and tolerated religion. The law also allows the return of Church property that was seized during the chase and ransacked in the past. Also declared Sunday as a day of worship.
Milan Law is not based solely by the attitude of religious tolerance. Instead, the government Constantine can be considered as a sign bermulanya oppression against the Jews who continued to take place in Christian Europe in the coming centuries.
Constantine was never made Christianity as the official state religion. However, through legislation and political steps he is clearly driving the development of this religion. In his reign it was obvious, anyone who entered the open door of Christianity means to him in terms of ease up a career ladder in administration. And decisions issued by Constantine also provides immunity and privileges of the church. Similarly, he built the famous churches in the world - such as the birth of Jesus Church in Bethlehem and the Tomb of Jesus church in Darussalam. All of this church was built at the time of Constantine.
The role of the Roman Emperor Constantine as a Christian religion by itself make him eligible list in the order listed in this book. However, some actions contain the effects of distant futures. For example, he is renovating and expanding the city of Byzantium, and replaced with the name of Constantinople (now Istanbul) is one of the largest cities in the world and still be the capital of the Byzantine Empire until 1453 and several centuries later became the capital of the Ottoman Empire.
Constantine also played an important role in the internal history of the church. Involve themselves in disputes between the followers of Arius and Athonius (two Christian theologians who propose different doctrine), Constantine called the Council meeting Nicola (at 325), the first church council proceedings. Council where Constantine took part actively, to resolve disputes with the accepted doctrine of the Nicene, which later became the orthodox doctrine of the church.
Another important thing is its role in relation to the preparation of civil regulations. Constantine make the legislation governing companies down through the generations (like Joqal, baker). The issuance of the decree which it also set the "colony" (peasant class) are forbidden to leave the ground garapannya. In the modern sense of this decree means to change the "colony" (sharecroppers), a slave, bound with the soil. This decree and other rules are the foundation stone of the whole social structure in medieval Europe.
Constatine not baptized until he lay in bed in a state of dying, though obviously he had entered The Christian long before that. However, concurrent with it is also true that the soul kenasraniannya faded completely. Although the size of the time, he was so violent and cruel. This attitude is not directed to his opponents only. The causes are not clear, he punishes his wife and son in 326.
Can be questioned, the acceptance of The Christian Constantine previously not alter the course of history, but only endorse things that can not be inevitable. In addition, although Biocletian Emperor (reigned from 284-305) has done a great gencetan of Christian Religion, his efforts to make religion that does not work because it was Christian Religion is much more powerful than the power that will be hit even by acts of cruel however. Tarolah people regard the failure of an experiment gone Biocletian quell Religion Christianity and religion could win even without interfering Constantine altogether. Supposition and speculation like that is interesting, but not convincing and uncertain. It's hard to imagine what would happen without Constantine. It is very clear, with encouragement, Religion Christianity is widespread both in number and size following regional influence. From a small group that does not mean only in a period of one century become an established religion and have a great influence in the world.
Evidently so, Constantine is a pivot figures in European history. Place in the order list is higher than the figures of Alexander the Great, Napoleon and Hitler because the effect of a long range.
